Penn State Hockey Star Avoids Serious Assault Charge

Prosecutors drop felony charge against likely NHL draft pick Gavin McKenna

Feb. 6, 2026 at 6:07pm

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Prosecutors have dropped the most serious assault charge against Penn State hockey star Gavin McKenna, a likely top pick in this year's NHL draft. McKenna remains accused of less serious offenses following an altercation last weekend that left a man with injuries to his jaw.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges of prosecuting high-profile student-athletes, as well as the complexities around determining the severity of assault charges based on the extent of injuries sustained by victims.

The details

Although the initial police complaint alleged the victim sustained injuries to both sides of his jaw and was missing a tooth, further investigation showed there were two fractures to the same side of his jaw and no teeth were knocked out. The victim is recovering from surgery. Prosecutors said video evidence led them to drop the felony aggravated assault charge, which would have required proof that McKenna acted with the intention of causing serious injury or showed an extreme indifference to the value of human life.

  • The incident occurred hours after Penn State lost to No. 2 Michigan State in an outdoor game at Beaver Stadium on February 5, 2026.
  • The preliminary hearing has been rescheduled for March 11, 2026.

The players

Gavin McKenna

An 18-year-old freshman center from Whitehorse, Yukon, who is considered a likely top pick in the upcoming NHL draft. He decided to play for Penn State after the NCAA lifted its ban on Canadian Hockey League players competing at the Division I level.

Bernie Cantorna

The Centre County District Attorney who said video evidence led him and police to drop the felony charge against McKenna.

Jason Dunkle

The lawyer representing McKenna.

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What they’re saying

“Although the police complaint alleged the victim sustained injuries to both sides of his jaw and was missing a tooth as a result, subsequent investigation showed there were two fractures to the same side of his jaw and that no teeth were knocked out.”

— Bernie Cantorna, Centre County District Attorney (wral.com)

What’s next

The preliminary hearing for the remaining misdemeanor charges against McKenna has been rescheduled for March 11, 2026.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complexities involved in prosecuting high-profile student-athletes, where the initial charges may not always align with the evidence uncovered through further investigation. It also underscores the importance of due process and ensuring that charges accurately reflect the severity of the alleged offense.